diff --git a/tests/test_cli.py b/tests/test_cli.py
index 371233f..72c0c19 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli.py
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ def test_load_config(tmpdir, monkeypatch):
     f.write(dedent('''
         [general]
         status_path = {status}
-        foo = 1
 
         [pair bob]
         a = bob_a
@@ -46,7 +45,7 @@ def test_load_config(tmpdir, monkeypatch):
     errors = []
     monkeypatch.setattr('vdirsyncer.cli.cli_logger.error', errors.append)
     general, pairs, storages = cli.load_config(fname, pair_options=('bam',))
-    assert general == {'foo': 1, 'status_path': status_path}
+    assert general == {'status_path': status_path}
     assert pairs == {'bob': ('bob_a', 'bob_b', {'bam': True}, {'foo': 'bar'})}
     assert storages == {
         'bob_a': {'type': 'filesystem', 'path': contacts_path, 'fileext':
@@ -188,7 +187,31 @@ def test_missing_general_section(tmpdir):
         env={'VDIRSYNCER_CONFIG': str(config_file)}
     )
     assert result.exception
-    assert 'critical: unable to find general section' in result.output.lower()
+    assert result.output.startswith('critical:')
+    assert 'unable to find general section' in result.output.lower()
+
+
+def test_wrong_general_section(tmpdir):
+    config_file = tmpdir.join('config')
+    config_file.write(dedent('''
+    [general]
+    wrong = yes
+    '''))
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(
+        cli.app, ['sync'],
+        env={'VDIRSYNCER_CONFIG': str(config_file)}
+    )
+
+    assert result.exception
+    lines = result.output.splitlines()
+    assert lines[:-1] == [
+        'critical: general section doesn\'t take the parameters: wrong',
+        'critical: general section is missing the parameters: status_path'
+    ]
+    assert lines[-1].startswith('critical:')
+    assert lines[-1].endswith('Invalid general section.')
 
 
 def test_verbosity(tmpdir):
diff --git a/vdirsyncer/cli.py b/vdirsyncer/cli.py
index 278b76b..e606849 100644
--- a/vdirsyncer/cli.py
+++ b/vdirsyncer/cli.py
@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ cli_logger = log.get(__name__)
 PROJECT_HOME = 'https://github.com/untitaker/vdirsyncer'
 DOCS_HOME = 'https://vdirsyncer.readthedocs.org/en/latest'
 
+GENERAL_ALL = set(['processes', 'status_path'])
+GENERAL_REQUIRED = set(['status_path'])
+
 
 class CliError(RuntimeError):
     pass
@@ -42,6 +45,28 @@ def get_status_name(pair, collection):
     return pair + '/' + collection
 
 
+def validate_general_section(general_config):
+    if general_config is None:
+        raise CliError(
+            'Unable to find general section. You should copy the example '
+            'config from the repository and edit it.\n{}'.format(PROJECT_HOME)
+        )
+
+    invalid = set(general_config) - GENERAL_ALL
+    missing = GENERAL_REQUIRED - set(general_config)
+
+    if invalid:
+        cli_logger.critical(u'general section doesn\'t take the parameters: {}'
+                            .format(u', '.join(invalid)))
+
+    if missing:
+        cli_logger.critical(u'general section is missing the parameters: {}'
+                            .format(u', '.join(missing)))
+
+    if invalid or missing:
+        raise CliError('Invalid general section.')
+
+
 def load_config(fname, pair_options=('collections', 'conflict_resolution')):
     c = RawConfigParser()
     with open(fname) as f:
@@ -80,12 +105,7 @@ def load_config(fname, pair_options=('collections', 'conflict_resolution')):
         else:
             handlers.get(section_type, bad_section)(name, get_options(section))
 
-    if general is None:
-        raise CliError(
-            'Unable to find general section. You should copy the example '
-            'config from the repository and edit it.\n{}'.format(PROJECT_HOME)
-        )
-
+    validate_general_section(general)
     return general, pairs, storages
 
 
@@ -273,7 +293,7 @@ def _create_app():
             try:
                 ctx.obj['config'] = load_config(fname)
             except Exception as e:
-                raise CliError('Error during reading config{}:\n{}'
+                raise CliError('Error during reading config{}: {}'
                                .format(fname, e))
 
     @app.command()